Apparatus for dispensing liquid



Feb, 1111 1936. F. c. PFEIL APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID 1 Filed March 2, 1955 VIIIIII IIVII v IIIIIIIIIIII Ill Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for dis-' pensing liquid from a container and more particularly to a device of this character which is commonly known as a beer tapper for drawing oif beer from a barrel anddelivering the same to a customer.

In the tapping devices heretofore employed for this purpose it has been possible to discharge the liquid, such as beer, from a cask or barrel without destroying the revenue or tax stamp on the barrel, whereby it would be possible to again refill the barrel and evade the payment of further tax on the commodity which is dispensed from the same.

It is the object of this invention to provide a tapping device for dispensing liquid, such as beer, from a barrel which is to be attached to the barrel or container at the brewery or place where the same is filled with the liquid, and to provide means whereby the valve cannot be opened for dispensing the beer without destroying or rupturing the revenue or tax stamp which is applied to this tapping device, for the purpose of indicating that the proper revenue has been paid thereon, and thereby preventing this stamp from being used improperly for marketing additional liquid in the same container.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a barrel or cask adapted to contain beer or other liquid which is to be dispensed, and provided with a suitable form of tapping device which embodies my invention and in which the parts occupy the position which they assume after the barrel has been filled, the tapping device closed, and a revenue stamp applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the valve of the tapping device in its open position and the means for holding the valve in its inoperative position retracted, and the revenue stamp associated with this holding device ruptured by a key whereby the position of the holding device is controlled.

Figure 3 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 Fig. 1, and showing an end view of the tapping device.

Figure 4 is a vertical section, taken on line 4-4 Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section, taken on line 5--5 Fig. 2 and showing the valve of the tapping device in an open position and the holding means for the valve mechanism retracted into its inoperative position,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on a reduced scale, taken on line 6-6 Fig. 8.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross section, taken on line 1--! Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the plate-shaped baffle forming part of the valve holding means, and the handle for operating the screw which connects this baiile with the body of the tapping valve.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing:

This tapping device is capable of use in connection with liquid containers of any suitable character for dispensing various kinds of liquids but for purposes of illustration the container shown in the drawing consists of a barrel, such as commonly used as a container for shipping beer, and in this drawing the numeral l0 represents part of the side wall or body of the barrel which is usually made of wooden staves, and I I one of the heads of the barrel which is also usually made of sections of wood.

Although this dispensing device may be mounted on any available part of this barrel, it is preferable to mount the same on its head II, which latter is usually provided with a tubular socket l2 having an external thread engaging with an internally threaded tapping opening l3 in the head ll of the barrel, and also provided with an internal screw thread I4 in which is secured the tapping device which embodies my invention, and which in its preferred form is constructed as follows:

The numeral l5 represents the body of the valve which is provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting neck l 6 which may be detachably secured in the socket l2 by any suitable means, but preferably by means of a bushing I! having an external screw thread which engages with the internally threaded socket l2, and also. provided with an internal thread into which is screwed an external thread on the lower end of said neck, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

At its upper part the body of the valve is provided with a conical valve seat l8 having its axis arranged horizontally and extending from side to side of the body, and provided in its lower part with a port l9 which communicates with a vertical passage 20 in the neck of the valve. Within the barrel is arranged a discharge pipe 2| which has its upper or outlet end connected with the lower end of the neck l6 by a screw joint 22 or otherwise, while its lower end extends to a point adjacent to the bottom of the barrel so that when air pressure is applied to the top of the liquid in the barrel this liquid will be forced downwardly in the barrel and upwardly through the discharge pipe 2 l, and through the valve device to the exterior whenever the valve is opened. This discharge pipe may be of any suitable material but preferably of flexible metal hose or tubing, as shown in Fig. 5.

Air pressure for thus discharging the beer or liquid from the cask is initially introduced at the brewery or filling station by any suitable means, but when this pressure requires replenishing at the place where the beer or liquid is dispensed, this can be readily accomplished through an air passage 23 formed in the valve body and opening at its inner end into the interior of the barrel while its outer end communicates with an inwardly opening check valve 24 secured to the valve body. Air under pressure may be supplied to the check valve 24 by means of a tube 25 which receives compressed air from any suitable source, such as a foot pumpcommonly used for inflating pneumatic tires.

Within the conical seat of the valve body is arranged a tubular valve closure or plug 26 which is of corresponding conical form and provided with a longitudinal passage 2! which communicates at its inner end with a port 28 on the inner part of this closure, while the outer end of this passage'communicates with a liquid delivery nozzle or spout 29 projecting laterally from this closure, which latter is drawn lengthwise in the direction for tightening-its periphery in engagement with the bore of the valve seat by means of a-screw nut 39 arranged on the small end of the closure and bearing against the adjacent outer side'of the valve body, as shown in Fig. 4. The nozzle or spout 29 is adapted to be turned from a position in which it projects inwardly from the valve closure over the central part of the barrel head, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 3, at which time the ports 19 and 28 are not in register with each other and the discharge conduit through the valve is closed, and thereby prevents the escape therethrough of the liquid from the container.

Upon, however, turning the nozzle or spout of the valve closure upwardly and laterally so that this nozzle overhangs the side or wall of the barrel; as shown by full lines in Figs. 2 and 5, the ports I 9 and 28 of the valve body and closure will be brought into register with each other, as

shown-in Figs. l and 5, whereby liquid is permitted to pass from the interior of the barrel through the conduit in the valve body, valve closure and nozzle, and discharged from the outer end-of the latter.

For convenience in delivering this liquid from the nozzle into a glass, measuring device or other receptacle provided for this purpose, the outer end of the nozzle, as shown at 3|, is curved so that the same projects downwardly along side of the barrel body when the nozzle is shifted into its operative position and overhangs the side of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 5.

Means are provided for holding the valve clo sure and nozzle in their inwardly or backwardly turned position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which holding means are so organized that a revenue or tax stamp 32 may be applied over parts of the same for the purpose of rendering it impossible plished in accordance with my invention are constructed as follows:

The numeral 33 represents a bafiie having preferably the form of a horizontal plate which is of oblong form and pivotally mounted with its central part on the valve body If: so that this bailie may be turned in a horizontal plane. Upon turning this bafiie horizontally after the nozzle has been turned into its inwardly projecting position so that one of the narrow ends of the same projects over the nozzle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and then looking or fastening the bafiie in this position, the valve closure will be held in its closed position and the nozzle cannot be turned upwardly and laterally outward for the purpose of opening the valve closure. When, however, the bafile plate 33 is turned about 90 so as to bring one of its wide sides parallel with the nozzle 29 the adjacent longitudinal edge portion of the bafile will not overhang this nozzle,

as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the nozzle to be turned about 180 from a position in which it projects inwardly from the valve closure to a position in which it projects laterally outwardly therefrom, whereby the valve means preferably comprise a vertical clamping screw 34 which passes through an opening 35* in the bottom of a pocket 35 in the central part of the bafile plate 33 and engages its external thread with an internal thread 3'! on a bracket 38 on the adjacent part of the valve body, while the head 39 at the upper end of this screw is arranged within the pocket 36 and bears against the bottom thereof.

On its upper side the bracket 33 is provided around the screw 34 with an annular row of looking teeth 40 which are adapted to engage with notches 4! formed between wide teeth 42 arranged in an annular row on the underside of the pocket of the baflle plate around the screw 34.

Upon turning the baflie so that one of its narrow ends overhangs the nozzle 29 while the latter is in its inwardly projecting inoperative position, the teeth 62 of the bafiie formed by the notches 44 therein are interlocked with the teeth 40 of the valve body, as shown in Fig. 3, and the clamping screw 3 l is tightened for the purpose of holding these teeth in engagement and retaining the baffle in a position in which it overhangs the in wardly projecting nozzle 2|, thereby preventing the nozzle from being swung laterally outward into its operative position and opening the valve until after the screw 34 has been loosened, the baffle plate lifted so as to disengage the teeth 40 and 42, and turning the bafiie so that no part of the same overhangs the nozzle of the valve closure.

Although the turning of the clamping screw for tightening or loosening the same may be effected by an ordinary wrench which may be attached to the head 39 of the screw or detached therefrom, it is preferable to employ for this purpose a handle or wrench 43 which is permanently attached to this clamping screw.

In the preferred construction this handle or wrench is provided at its inner end with a fork 44, the arms of which straddle the head 38 of the clamping screw and are pivotally connected therewith by means of a transverse pivot pin 45,

or closing said passage, and a baifie member as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8; ,After the clamping screw has been turned sufficiently in the direction for tightening the screw 34 the hand lever or wrench 43 isflpreferably dropped into a radial groove 46 in the upper side of the baflle plate 33, so that the top of the wrench or handle is flush with the top of the baffle plate, as best shown in Figs. 3, 6 and .7, and therefore is out of the way and does not interfere with the further manipulation of the tapping device.

While the wrench or handle 43 is thus dropped into the groove 46 after the bafile plate has been fastened down'on the valve body in a position in which the baffie overhangs the discharge nozzle 29 in a retracted position, the revenue or tax stamp 32, such as'now commonly used for tax collecting purposes, may be pasted or otherwise applied over the top of the battle so as to cover the upper end of the: clamping screw and its wrench handle, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7,

and thereby prevent the baffle from being released and turned into a position in which it will free the nozzle of the valve closure, inasmuch as the raising of the handle 43 necessarily tears or ruptures the tax stamp and thereby renders the latter unsuitable for re-use without liability of detection.

It is thus impossible to open the valve of the dispensing apparatus and abstract liquid from the container without first destroying or mutilating the tax stamp, thereby operating to aid the government in collecting the proper revenue from each batch of'beer or other liquid which is dispensed from the respective barrel.

It is, of course, obvious that if the handle 43 was omitted and a wrench applied directly to the head 39 of the clamping screw 34, in such case the revenue stamp would only cover this head, but this would also require the rupture of the revenue stamp before the wrench can be applied ;,to the clamping screw for operating the latter.

For convenience in transporting the cask a handle is provided which preferably is made of U-shaped form and has its cross bar 41 arranged lengthwise of the baffle plate 33 and the arms 48 3 :at its opposite ends pivotally connected by means of screws 49 or otherwise with opposite narrow ends of the baflie plate, as shown'in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5.

When carrying the barrel the handle is turned 1 r upwardly, as shown. in Figs. 1 and 3, so that it extends over the top of the baffle plate and can be easily grasped by one'hand of the attendant. When, however, access is desired to the top of the baffle plate for releasing the latter from the nozzle 29 and permitting opening of the valve for dispensing liquid, then the handle is swung downwardlyon that longitudinal side of the baffle plate opposite the nozzle 29, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, whereby the means for clamping the bafile to the valve body are readily accessible for-manipulation.

As a whole this tapping device is very simple in construction and capable of being produced at comparatively low cost, it has no parts which are liable to get out of order, and the same can be readily manipulated for either holding the valve in its closed position and sealing it against tampering, and also releasing the same for dispensing the contents of the container.

I claim as my invention: g 1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on the container and provided with a liquid discharge passage, a valve closure movable on said body into difierent positions for opening mounted on said body so as to be movable in a plane parallel to the adjacent surface of the container and adapted in one position to permit said closure to be moved into a position which opens said passage, and in. another position to hold said closure in a position which closes said passage.

2. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on the container and provided with a liquid discharge passage, a valve closure movable on said body into different positions for opening or closing said passage, and provided with a discharge nozzle, and a bafiie member mounted on said body so as to be movable in a plane parallel to the adjacent surface of the container and adapted in one position to permit said nozzle and closure to be moved into a position which opens said passage and in another position to hold said nozzle and closure in a position which closes said passage.

3. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a. container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, and a bafile plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned in a plane parallel to the adjacent surface of the container into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage.

4. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a bafile plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when. turned in a plane parallel to the adjacent surface of the container into one position. to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and means for holding said plate in position when the nozzle and closure are in position to close said passage.

5. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a baffle plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned in a plane parallel to the adjacent surface of the container into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and means for holding said plate in position when the nozzle and closure are in position to close said passage, and which means include an actuating element adapted to be covered by a tax stamp which must be ruptured before said element is ccessible.

6. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a baflle plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned 'in a plane parallel to the adjacent surface of the container into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and holding means for retaining the baffle against movement including a screw connecting said body and baffle and forming a pivot for the latter.

'7. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a baflie plate pivotally mountv,ed on said body and adapted when turned into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into .a position which opens said passage, and holding means for retaining the baiiie against movement including a screw connecting said body and baiiie and forming a pivot for the latter, and a handle for operating said screw foldably connected therewith.

8. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a bafile plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and holding means for retaining the baflie against movement including a screw passing through said baffle and having a thread on its lower end working in a threaded opening in said body and a head at its upper end which engages the upper side of said bafile.

' 9. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mount-1 ed on said body adapted in one position to close, 7 said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from.

said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a baffle plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and, closure into a position which opens saidpas-x sage, and holding means for retaining the bafile against movement including a screw .passing' through said baflle and having a thread on its lower end working in a threaded opening in said body and a head at its upper end which engages the upper side of said baffle, and an operating handle for said screw pivoted thereon so as to turned into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and holding means for retaining the bafile against movement including a screw passing through said baflle and having a thread on its lower end working in a threaded opening in said body and a head at its upper end which engages the upper side of said baille, and an operating handle for said screw pivoted thereon so as to be foldable relatively thereto, said baflie being provided on its upper side with a recess for the reception of said handle when the latter is in closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, av bafile plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and holding means for retaining the baiiie against movement including a screw passing through said baffle and having a thread on its lower end working in a threaded opening in said body and a head at its upper end which engages the upper side of said baffle, and cooperating teeth arranged on the opposing parts of said body and baffle.

12. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a mounted on a container and provided with .a

discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, a bafile plate pivotally mounted on said body and adapted when turned into one position to prevent movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and when turned into another position to permit movement of said nozzle and closure into a position which opens said passage, and holding means for retaining the baffle against movement including a screw passing through said baflle and having a thread on its lower end working in a threaded opening in said body and a head at its upper end which engages the upper side of said baffle, and annular rows of teeth which are formed respectively on said body and bafiie around the axis of said screw and adapted to be engaged and disengaged for holding or releasing said bafiie.

13. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container comprising a valve body adapted to be mounted on a container and provided with a discharge passage, a rotary valve closure mounted on said body adapted in one position to close said passage and in another position to open said passage, a nozzle projecting laterally from said closure and adapted to occupy one position when the passage is closed and another position when said passage is open, and a plate shaped baiiie of oblong form pivoted on said body and adapted to be turned into one position for causing a narrow part of said plate to stand in the path of said nozzle and prevent the latter from being moved for opening said passage, but by turning said plate so that the same is out of the path of said nozzle the latter can be moved for opening said passage.

FRED C. PFEIL. 

